Dave, the bottom line with O'Carroll is that Wigan would have been silly to offer him anything more than a 1 year deal considering his injury troubles and it would also be crazy to offer him any sort of wage increase.
Hull have taken a chance to gamble on a player with a bad injury history by offering him a 3 year deal and perhaps a bigger wage than at Wigan.

There's also the fact that O'Carroll wants first team rugby. Even if Wigan matched Hull's offer or offered even more, the player doesn't want to remain at Wigan because he wants first team rugby. It was the players decision. The club wanted to keep him but since he has left it makes sense to look for suitable replacements. Given that there are already 4 first choice prop forwards signed for next year it would be hard to make a big name signing so common sense suggests making a shrewd signing. Targeting a player who has the potential to be an very dangerous player is an option, as is signing a young player with plenty of potential. Lauaki and Dudson/Flower would fit the bill if that's what the club are looking for.

And some people spend all their time looking for any perceivable chink in his armour through which they can attack him.

Dave, why don't you wait and see if these signings have actually happened before you publically slit your own throat (again)?

You need to cool it about O'Carroll as well. However you try to spin it, we're hardly going to miss a player who we've barely fielded in two years (and there's no way we can guarantee him the first-team action that he's requested). With all the achievements at Wigan in recent seasons, to make such a fuss over so little is making you look a fool. Remember, you got on a similar hobby-horse over both Higham and Ainsough, and nothing negative came of those departures.

Ohhh err missus !!!!!!!!!!!!

There's always one isn't there

daveO wrotewill do nothing to help season ticket sales maintain their current level never mind increase.'"

That is just your warped response to anything I post that disagrees with something the club does these days. If you bothered to look you will find plenty of positive acknowledgement from me about IL's tenure at the club but you don't want to see it as that doesn't suit your argument.



Given some people are arguing in favour of these so called signings and making a case for them are they slitting their throats as well? We all know they have not signed yet (and may not even do so) but are debating the merits one way or the other if they do. That is blindingly obvious I would have thought.



Give it a rest with the "fool" comments. If you can't construct an argument without resorting to that sort of snide comment you ought not to bother.

That aside, just which players do we guarantee first team football to? I thought it was a meritocracy here and O'Carroll would have as much chance of getting a go as any of the other props.

It happens to be my opinion he is worth a place in our squad more than any of the players rumoured to have been signed. That is not some way out of left field position given the players being mentioned as our new recruits.

So you think if we signed Thomas, Dudson and Flower that will help season ticket sales? Really?

i think winning the challenge cup, having a good run in the playoffs and making the grand final(hopefully) will have more of an impact on season ticket sales!

He wanted to leave. It was entirely his choice. Simply by re-signing at Wigan he would have been in contention for a first team place but HE decided he had to move elsewhere.

If we signed any player on the basis of how many season tickets they'll shift, we're signing them for the wrong reasons.

I'm sorry, mate, but you just seem to be cheerleading the anti-IL campaign.

I don't think much of the Hull guy we've been linked with either, but all this - not to mention the Gareth Thomas stuff last week (good grief!) - reminds me vividly of the OTT stuff we got from you when Ainscough was leaving.

Sorry, but I can't help it if I feel IL is doing so many things right that I can overlook the occasional error (Does that really mean I'd jump in the canal if he told me to?) We currently hold three trophies, and still have a chance for two more this season. And yet at one stage last week, you actually compared him unfavourably - with Maurice Lindsay!!!

On the subject of O'Carroll, my understanding is that he WASN'T guaranteed first-team action and that was enough to make him decide to go elsewhere. Now, if that's true you tell me where the club were at fault. I can't see how they were.

Worked wonders for HKR with Mason.

NOT.

Im not surprised in any whatsoever. [in fact its what i would have done in his position]
Good luck to him. I am sure that he will flourish, but that we will replace him with equal standard.

Dave what has a 24 year old O'Carroll ever done other than offering a supporting role? He is 24. and other than being a grafter brings very little to the table. We have 2 lads coming through who have real potential and along with these lads could improve our team and will certainly improve our squad depth.

O'Carroll was not guaranteed first team rugby and rightfully so his performances have not warranted it. At 24 are we supposed to guarantee a player who has not deserved it first team rugby at an inflated price to retain a non crucial squad member?

Regards the transfers I am not going over my thoughts on Thomas that has been done. The other 3 guys are clearly as I have stated on another thread signings from a very weak market this year but all offer far more potential than O'Carroll long term and in the case of 2 maybe all of them the short term too.

I will bet you know Lauaki and Flower go on to be regarded as more useful players than O'Carroll within their first year at Wigan, and I also expect O'Carroll will prove to be nothing more than a player fighting for a 4th choice rotation prop at a team fighting it out for the lower spots in the top 8.